How to draw in paint.net using Gaussian blur

This tutorial will guide you to draw in paint.net using Gaussian blur. We'll make the toy dog. This will be the end result.

This tutorial is not difficult, but rather lengthy. This is necessary if you want to draw the same dog. In order to understand the ways of drawing using Gaussian blur, simply skim through it. This tutorial contains various ways that can be useful for drawing other images using Gaussian blur in paint.net.

Step #1.
We'll start of with creating a new image (ctrl+n).
Using the linear gradient tool create a background.
Colors are #D4E1CF and #BBD3B1.

Draw the Head of a Dog

Step #2. Add a new layer.
Using the Ellipse tool draw the form of a dogs head.
Color #EFDFC2.
You can make a egg-shaped head via a plugin Quadrilaterial Reshape.
Let's name the layer "Head".

Step #3.
Select an area on the layer "Head" that covers up the head form. Use the Magic Wand tool.

Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Color #1F2113.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw a shadow, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 36px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Head".

Step #4.
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Color #D5C499.
Use Line/Curve tool and draw at the selected area cheeks, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 14px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Head".

Step #5.
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Color #B3B178.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw an another shadow, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 30px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Head".

Step #6.
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Color #E2C697.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw a blush, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 30px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Head".

Step #7.
Let's make the dog's eyes.
Use the Ellipse tool.
Color #4C3C22.

Step #8.
Let's make a dog's nose.
Use the Ellipse tool.
Color #20232A.

Select an area on that covers up the nose form.
Create a new layer above.
Color White.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw a highlight, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 15px radius.

Merge the layers with nose and highlight onto layer "Head".

Step #9.
Let's make a dog's mouth.
Color #927243.
Use Line/Curve tool and draw a mouth, like so.

Step #10.
Let's make a dog's eyebrows.
Left eyebrow.
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Color #524127.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw, like so.

Use Eraser tool and make it, like so.

Apply "Effects" - "Noise" - "Median" at a 3px radius

Reduce the size of the eyebrow.
Similarly, draw another - right eyebrow.

Merge the layers with eyebrows onto layer "Head".

Step #11.
Let's make a dog's left ear.
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Use the Ellipse tool.
Color #59443F.

Use Eraser tool and make it, like so.

Apply "Effects" - "Noise" - "Median" at a 7px radius

Select an area on that covers up the ear form.
Create a new layer above.
Color #3B3A28.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw shadow at the selected area.
Color White.
Use Line/Curve tool and draw the white line in the middle, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 7px radius.

Merge the layers onto layer "Head".

Step #12.
Let's make a dog's right ear.
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
Use the Ellipse tool.
Color #59443F.
Use Eraser tool and Paintbrush tool and make it, like so.

Apply "Effects" - "Noise" - "Median" at a 11px radius

Select an area on that covers up the ear form.
Create a new layer above.
Color #1F2113.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw shadow at the selected area, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 4px radius.

Create a new layer.
Color White.
Use Line/Curve tool and Paintbrush tool and draw at the selected area the white line in the middle, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 7px radius.

Merge the three ear's layers and move the ear as you want.

Merge the layer onto layer "Head".

Draw the body of a dog.

Step #13.
Let's make a dog's body.
Create a new layer above the background layer and below the layer "Head". Name this layer "Body".
Color # F3E1C8.
Use the Ellipse tool.
Use Paintbrush tool. Line's style is Rounded. Draw the dog's legs, like so.

Step #14.
Select an area on that covers up the body form.
Create a new layer above layer "Body".
Draw the contours of the dog's legs.
Color #6F6037.
Use Line/Curve tool .
Use on the layer with the contours linear gradient tool in the transparency mode. Use it upwards through the line.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 4px radius.

Merge the layer with contours onto layer "Body".

Step #15.
Select an area on that covers up the body form.
Create a new layer above layer "Body".
Color #6F6037.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw shadow at the selected area, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 17px radius.

Do not merge layer, onto layer "Body" befor you perform Step #17.

Step #16.
Repeat the actions like in Step #15, to make a shadow at the top of the body:
Create a new layer below the shadow layer of Step #15, but above layer "Body".
Color #F6FEB8.
Do not merge layer, onto layer "Body" befor you perform Step #17.

Step #17.
Let's make a dog's knees.
Use on the layer with the shadow of Step #15 radial gradient tool in the transparency mode twice.
Use gradient twice, once for each knee.
The center of the gradient it the center the knee.

Merge the layers with shadows onto layer "Body".

Step #18.
Let's make a pink body for a dog.
Select an area on that covers up the body form.
Create a new layer above layer "Body".
Color #E2C697.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw a blush at the selected area, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 15px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Body".

Step #19.
Let's make a shadow.
Select an area on that covers up the body form.
Create a new layer above layer "Body".
Color #1F2113.
Use Paintbrush tool and draw a shadow at the selected area, like so.

Do at the selected area a Gaussian Blur at a 15px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Body".

The dog is almost ready!!

There remains to make a shadow of a dog.

Step #20.
To start a little tilt the dogs's head.

Step #21.
Create a new layer above background but below the layers "Head" and "Body". Name this layer "Shadow".
Draw on that layer form shadows from the dog.
Use the Ellipse tool.
Color #64713B.

Do a Gaussian Blur at a 20px radius.

Apply AA's Assistant plugin at default settings to the "Body" layer.

Step #22.
Select an area on that covers up the body form.
Create a new layer above layer "Body".
Color #64713B.
Do at the selected area a Outline Selection plugin.

Deselected the area.
Use on the layer linear gradient tool in the transparency mode.

Don't select an area. Do on layer a Gaussian Blur at a 4px radius.

Merge the layer onto layer "Body".

Step #23.
Repeat the actions like in Step #22 to make the shadow on the left side of the body
The differences from the Step #22 are:
The weight of line for plugin Outline Selection is 4px.
Do a Gaussian Blur at a 14px radius.

Step #24.
Repeat the actions like in Step #22 to make the shadow on the left side of the head
The differences from the Step #22 are:
Create a new layer above layer "Head".
The weight of line for plugin Outline Selection is 6px.
Do a Gaussian Blur at a 14px radius.

Well, you're done! Enjoy!